Rotatable valve and switch support for endoscopic instruments



INVENTORS Y 5. QUEENS 5U WA A 7 7'0 QA/EY ROTATABLE VALVE AND SWITCHSUPPORT FOR Nov. 28, 1950' Patented Nov. 28, 1-950- 2,531,827 ROTATABLEVALVE AND SWIT'CHS'UPP ORT FOR ENDGSCOPIOINSTRUIWENTS Harry S. Rubens,=Manhasset, and Ignaz \Suwa, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors toNational Electric Instrument Go., .'Inc., 'Elmhurst, N.'Y;.,

a corporation of New York:

Applicationhugust 7, 1948-, Serial-No. 43,097

Claims.

substantially closed by means of :an obturator I so that the edges ofthe fenestrumsdo not cause injury during passage into or out of the body'cav-ity,

After the tube has been inserted, the obturator is withdrawn andreplaced by a telescopic-optical system through which the body cavity isobserved under illuminationproduced by an incandesce t lamp providedinside the tip of the outer cystoscope tube and which is adapted toilluminate through the fenestrum-while being treated, etc. Clear visionof the bodycavity, e. g. the bladder, is generally accomplished bydilating such cavity under fluid pressure maintained and controlled by avalve arrangement at the rear of the cystoscopelouter tube. Such valvearrangement usually has the valve mechanism and conduits secured in afixed position at the .rear of the cystoscope enter tubeso that when thetube is rotated during body cavit examinations, e'tc., the entire valveassembly and attached tubing, e. g. rubber tubing utilized for flushingand for providing 'fiuid for the distension of the body cavity, alsorotate with the tube and inhibit the ease of manipulating thecystoscope, said ease of manipulation being very desirable in that thegreater the ease of manipulation, the less the discomfort to thepatient. Furthermore, cystoscopes as known are provided with either anelectrical terminal fixed to the outer tube and having the samedisadvantage as the fixed valve assembly, or they are provided with arotary contact having distinct advantages over the fixed terminal,which, however, does not provide the desired ease of manipulation due toa substantially large frictional contact area. 7 g

It is one object of this invention to provide a eystoseope or the likeinstrument with a combination comprising a valve assembly and an elec-vand: cooperating switch system. Other objects andadvantagesoftheiinvention will become ap- ,parent from the description hereinafter:i'ollowting the accompanying drawings forming. part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an elevational view 01245118 cystoscope structureofthe-invention-showingthe combined electrical contact and2 cooperatingswitch system and valve assembly,

Figure 2 illustrates a rightangle-view of Figure 1. with the leverarmsin angular displ ement, -and v Figure 3- illustrates an enlargedlongitudinal- :sectional view, partly in elevation, of Figure 1.

(According to the {present invention, we provide an improved cystoscopestructure comprising -a combination of a valve assembly anda rotatableelectrical contact with a cooperating switch system, said valve-assemblyand switch system mounted on a single freely rotatable member therebyproviding .a :cystoscope' which may be manipulated with great easeprticularly in view of the fact that the cystosoope outer sheath or tubemay be rotated independently of encumbrances which interfere with themanipulation of the .eystoscope in the examination, .etc., of .bodycavities. The treely rotatable member more particularly describedhereinafter allows such cystoscope attachments, e. vg. tubing and wireleads, which otherwise would (interfere with examinetions, to assume .aconstant position and maintain such vposition regardless of the rotationof the .cystoscope tube while in position -tor examination.

In Figure 1, we have shown the cystoscope structure of the inventioncomprisinga freely rotatable member 1 having mounted thereon a valveassembly 42 and an electrical switch system 3 so positioned that thecontact pin 4 may cooperate and maintain contact with the contact ring 5duringirotation of the tube 6 by means of a handle 1. .Since the memberI is freely rotatable, it is :apparent that the elements mounted thereonand any attachments to such elements will assume a constant position or(simultaneous movement T- gardless of the rotation of the tube 6.

In Figure 2, taken at right angles to 1, we have more particularly shownthe nature of the valve assembly, in this case a pluralit of valves isindicated, comprising a valve lever B and a conduit or nipple 9 to whichtubin may be attached hr u h fl id under pre sur may pass are; theirrigation and distension of the body cavity. Each valve cooperates withan orifice or ripening the eystoscone tube or sheath. The

' rotatable member l.

panel) in the slot 3|.

lever arms Ill and II relate to the locking device provided for thecystoscope or the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a longitudinal-sectional view of the structure ofour invention and particularly shows the various embodiments in detail.The rotatable member I rotates freely about the tube support or tubebody l2 between the complementary beveled abutment [3, which is providedwith a circular groove l4 for sealing lubricant, and a complementarybeveled sealing nut I5, which is similarly provided with a circulargroove IS. The sealing nut I5 is properly adjusted with respect to therotatable member I by a screw action on the threaded body I2 andretainedin proper aspect for free movement of rotatable member I by means of theset screws [1 and I8. Having positioned and secured the rotatable memberI, a contact ring 5 is positioned coaxial with the tube 6 between twoinsulating rings I9 and and secured by means of the flange body cavity,openings or orifices 22 and 23 are formed through the tube body l2 andseparated from each other by the collar 24 so that each orificecooperates with one of the valves identified by the valve assembly 2 ofFigure 2 and one of the annular grooves provided between the rotatablemember l and the tube body 12 of Figure 3. However, the collar 24 may beeliminated and both valves'may be fed through a single common orifice.

The electrical switch system 3 comprises a housing 25 which is removablewith respect to the circular groove with detent 21 is caused to en-'gage a detent pin 28 which holds the housing in proper position for thecontact pin 4 to contact the contact ring 5, said detent pin 28 beingprovided with a spring tension by means of the detent spring 29 andbeing retained within certain movable limits by the action of theretainer The contact pin 4 is insulated from the housing 25 by means ofthe slidable contact insulator 32 which is diametrically slotted at itsextremity to allow the contact pin 4 to contact the contact ring 5 asillustrated. From the illustration, it is apparent that the contact pin4 is recessed in said diametrical slot so that the pin can contact onlythe rim or edge of the contact ring. However, when the housing 25 isrotated, for example, 90, the contact insulator 32 rotates similarlycausing the raised portions of the insulator to contact the contact ring5 and disengage the contact pin 4 from the edge or the contact ring 5and in this manner causes an opening of the electrical circuit or placesthe switch in the off position. The proper slidable motion for thecontact insulator 32 is provided by a spring (not shown) insidethe guideassembly'33 through which is an insulated lead from the contact pin tothe electrical cord which terminates at the source of current supply,said guide assembly is insulated from the housing 25 by means of theinsulator ring 34. The complete circuit is'established with theprovision of a ground illustrated at 35 inside the electricalswitch-housing 25. To provide the cystoscope lamp with current supply,it is only necessary to b Upon insertion of the housing 25 into theshort tubular structure or barrel portion 26 of the rotatable member I,a

rotate the housing 25 approximately 90 so that the contact pin 4 againcontacts the contact ring 5 under the spring tension of the springinside the guide assembly 33. This spring tension, although suflicientto maintain contact between the contactpin and the contact ring, is,nevertheless, not sufiicient to cause the detent pin 28 to disengagefrom the detent 21 so that the housing 25 still remains securely inposition regardless of the thrust of the switch spring inside the guideassembly 33.

The slotted arrangement of the contact insulator is particularlyadvantageous in that should the switch system be temporarily removedfrom the barrel portion 26 of the rotatable member I, and'set aside,there would be no great danger of a short circuit resulting from contactof the contact pin with a metallic instrument, etc., since the contactpin is almost entirely protected by the raised portions at the contactinsulator extremity.

Of particular importance is the fact that in the combination of thecontact pin and contact ring, according to the invention, only a minimumcontact surface is provided which does not greatly interfere with thefreely rotatable member I, since there is no great frictional drawback.

It is, therefore, apparent that we have provided an improved cystoscopestructure directed primarily for the eflicient and easy manipulation ofa cystoscope by the novel combination herein described.

However, the invention is not limited to the specific illustrations anddescription herein set forth as rel-ating'to the cystoscope, but may beconstrued to include, generally, improvements for endoscopic instrumentsfalling within the true scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

1. In an endoscopic instrument, the combination comprising an endoscopictube and support therefor, an electrical contact ring positioned on saidsupport coaxial with said endoscopic tube and insulated therefrom, arotatable member mounted on and rotatable about said support, saidrotatable member having mounted thereon an electrical switch system anda valve assembly cooperative with an orifice formed through the wall ofsaid endoscopic tube, said electrical switch system comprising arotatable housing detachable from said rotatable member, said housingcontaining an axially moveable contact insulator having-a diametricallyslotted end and recessed therein a contact pin, said contact pin beingcooperativewith said contact ring to provide an electrical switchoperable upon rotation of said rotatable housing. I

2. In an endoscopic instrumentaccording to claim 1, a recessed contactpin engageable with only an edge of said contact ring, said housing andcontact insulator being angularlydisposed toward said edge.

3. In an; endoscopic instrument-according to claim 1, said electricalswitch system including wiring therefor and said valve assemblyincluding tubing therefor being supported by a single rotatable member.for simultaneous movement in relation to said endoscopic tube.

4. In anv endoscopic instrument, the combination comprising anendoscopic tube and support therefor, an electrical contactringpositio-ned on said support coaxial withsaid endoscopic tube andinsulated therefrom, a rotatable member mounted on said support betweenbeveled supporting means complementary with said rotatasaid rotatablehousing, said beveled supporting means and said edge of said contactring providing a minimum friction surface, said rotatable member beingfreely rotatable.

5. In an endoscopic instrument according to claim 4, said rotatablemember having a short tubular structure secured thereto, said detachablehousing being insertable into said short tubular structure of saidrotatable member, said tubular structure being angularly disposed in thedirection of said contact ring, said housing having an annular grooveengageable with a spring activated means for maintaining said housingsecured to said rotatable member during rotation of said housing.

HARRY S. RUBENS. IGNAZ SUWA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,643,732 Wolf Sept. 27, 19271,741,740 Sederholm et al. Dec. 31, 1929 2,279,714 Meyerhof Apr. 14,1942 2,470,013 Bhajekar May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date589,846 Germany Dec. 15, 1933

